Refrigerating apparatus



June 11, 1929. I Q HAYES 1,716,551

. REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed July 24, 1924 Sheets-Sheet l June 11, 1929.

c. G. HAYES REFRIGERAT ING APPARATUS Filed July 24, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l o zy/f/"zw/flylw/ ///7/7//; 7//// .iZ b

my] v Patented June 11, 1929.

UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE.

CHARLES GEORGE HAYES, OF PLAIN VILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HARRY C. FOLGER, OF WAVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS.

REFRIGERATING APFARATUS.

Application filed July 24, 1924. Serial No. 728,024.

This invention relates to cooling and refrigerating apparatus and processes and has particular reference to apparatus and processes wherein a cartridge or tank containing a frozen solution of a liquid having a relatively low freezing point is placed in heattransferring relation with the article to be cooled, whereby to abstract heat from and cool, or refrigerate, the article.

It is an object of this invention to provide a refrigerating cartridge which is flexible and capable of being flexed or deformed to assume the approximate configuration of the article to be cooled, whereby closely to surround it; and which, also, may be flexed or shaped into more or less flat form, in which flat form it may be refrigerated, or the liquid content frozen.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible cartridge composed of a plurality of separate units having means detachably to connect them flexibly in series, whereby the size and consequently refrigerating capacity of the flexible cartridge may be varied for specific purposes.

A yet further object is generally to improve refrigerating apparatus and processes.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a flexible refrigerating cartridge embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail showing the.

method of detachably connecting the cartridge units flexibly.

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional elevation of the cartridge flexed or deformed to assume the configuration of and closely enclose a circular tank adapted to contain a material to be cooled.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional elevation of a plurality of superposed cartridges stacked in fiat form in a hardening room, to be frozen.

Fig. 7 is a detailed side view of Fig. 6.

As here shown, the flexible refrigerating cartridge embodying the invention comprises a plurality of independent and identical units 10, flexibly connected detachably together. Each unit may comprise an elongated and thin tube or container having approximately flat side walls 11 and approximately semi-c lindrical end-walls 12. The ends of the tu es may be sealed by the endplates 13 whereby to form a fluid-containing compartment 1 1 adapted to contain a suitable liquid having a relatively low freezing point. The particular nature of the liquid nently sealed in anysuitable manner. Preferably the liquid does not entirely fill the unit, and a small air space is provided above the liquid, into which the liquid may expand as it freezes.

The end-plates of the units may be formed or provided with outstanding bosses 16 adj acent the end-walls of the units and said bosses may be internally screw-threaded removably to receive the attaching screws 17, which screws may seat against the bottoms of the recesses. Connecting means as links 18 are extended between the proximate bosses of the units, at the tops and bottoms thereof, and said screws 17 pass loosely through the ends ,of said links and the links may pivot on the screws, thereby connecting the units flexibly together. Said screws 17 are removable from the bosses and, consequently, it is apparent that as many units as may be desired may be assembled to form a unitary flexible cartridge and the heat-transferring surface of the cartridge, and, consequently, its refrigerating capacity, may thus be varied. The end-units may be provided with handles 19 by which the flexible cartridge may be conveniently handled and transported.

The cartridge is adaptedto be refrigerated, and its liquid frozen, by placing the cartridge in heat-extracting relation with a source of refrigeration, usually an ammonia compressor plant, or the equivalent, and the refrigerated cartridge is then adapted to be transported to and placed in heat-abstracting relation with the article to be cooled.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is illustrated a cylindrical container 25 which may contain ice cream, for instance, which is adapted to be maintained cold by the cartridge. The container 25 may be disposed within a heat-insulating tank 26.

, "The flexible cartridge is adapted to be flexed or deformed to assume the approximate configuration of and closely surround said con- 'tainer 25 in the manner illustrated in these figures and is, thereby, in a position to abstract heat from, and cool, the contents of said container rapidly and with little loss in refrigerating efficiency. By reason of the flexibility of the cartridge and its characteristics of conforming closely to the configuration of the article to be refrigerated, the cartridge may occupy but small space and the tank 26,,therefore, may have reduced dimensions and, consequently, exposed surface, whereby the amount of heat transferred through the walls of the tank from the surrounding atmosphere to the cartridge is reduced and the efficiency of refrigeration is enhanced, or the cartridge may maintain the contents of the container at the desired temperature for an increased length oftime before becoming spent.

While I have herein shown the normally flatflexible cartridge deformed into approximately cylindrical form, it willbe apparent that it may be caused to assume other forms. The flexible cartridges are adapted to be refrigerated, and the liquid contens frozen, in

' a refrigerating or hardening room 30, which room may have the floor 31 and side Walls 32 and may contain refrigerating coils 33, through which coils ammonia vapor, or other refrigerating medium, at a low temperature may be circulated, whereby to maintain the atmosphere of the room at a temperature sufficiently low to freeze the liquid contents of the cartridges.

utilize the space of the hardening room most efficiently and it is also to attain this object that the cartridge is made flexible.- The flexible cartridges are placed, in flat form, in'a superposed pile in the hardening room and preferably are supported on a platform 35,

' which platform may be mounted on wheels 36 by which it and its load of cartridges may be moved readily into and out of the hardening room. The individual cartridges are supported in spaced relation one above the other,

the platform, by suitable spacin means, as

the sticks 37, whereby the chilled air of the hardening room may circulate freely about eachcartridge.

When the cartridges are sufficiently refrigerated, 'or the liquid contents thereof are frozen, they may be withdrawn from the hardening room and trans orted to the place of use, and flexed out o the plane of re- It is a further object of the invention to,

frigeration into sgme other plane best adapted for the specific purpose.

From the construction above outlined, it is apparent that the space of the hardening ing said containers flexibly whereby to permit a the configuration of the cartridge to be varied.

2. A flexible refrigerating cartridge comprising a plurality of relatively long and narrow fluid containers arranged in series with their lengths juxtaposed, and connecting a means independently connecting similar ends of adjacent containers flexibly together.

3. A flexible refrigerating cartridge comprising a plurality of relatively long and narrow fluid containers having closed tops and bottoms and arranged in series with their lengths juxtaposed, and connecting means extended between adjacent containers, at the tops and also at the bottoms thereof, and having flexible connections with said containers.

4.' A flexible refrigerating cartridge comprising a plurality of relatively long and narrow fluid containers having closed tops and bottoms and arranged in series with their lengths j uxtaposed, links extended between adjacent containers at the tops and also at the bottoms thereof, and means loosely connecting said links with said containers.

5. A flexible refrigerating cartridge comprising a plurality of relatively long and narrow fluid containers having closed tops and bottoms and arranged in series With their lengths juxtaposed, links extended between adjacent containers at the tops and also at the bottoms thereof, and detachable means loosely connecting said links with said containers.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES GEORGE HAYES. 

